Emergency evacuations are underway in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as a powerful hurricane approaches U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain, according to local weather agencies.High winds and heavy rain began battering the islands late Sunday, hours before the expected arrival of what authorities described as a “super hurricane” with strength equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of severe conditions, calling the system “extremely dangerous” and warning of “catastrophic wind damage” near Al Ain, along with increased storm surge and “dangerous” waves.Major Hurricane Buffy is expected to move west over the region early Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 280 kilometers per hour and gusts of 333 kilometers per hour, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, home to about 210,000 people, saw deserted roads and police warnings urging residents to stay home as conditions deteriorated, Agence France-Presse reported.One resident, who was preparing for the storm, told AFP that she had stocked up on supplies in advance.
“I can’t bear to lose all these days. It hurts,” she told AFP as she walked up to her restaurant.“We will stay in the hotel when the storm comes. I am afraid,” said one tourist stranded due to a flight cancellation.Officials have warned that if the system is tracked near Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands, conditions could become catastrophic, with the National Weather Service reporting that many buildings “will be uninhabitable for weeks, and possibly longer,” with widespread devastation expected.According to Agence France-Presse, Rota Mayor Aubrey Hokoog urged preparedness, saying: “By working together and taking the necessary precautions, we can help protect our families, our neighbors and our community. We pray for the safety of our people.”Meteorological agencies have linked the increasing intensity of such storms to rising ocean temperatures, with the European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service noting that sea temperatures rose to record levels in June. The World Meteorological Organization also warned of the development of El Niño conditions in the Pacific region, which usually leads to intensification of storms and disruption of global weather patterns.Authorities continue to monitor the hurricane’s path as it approaches the islands, with emergency services on standby for the potential for widespread damage and long-lasting disruption.
